Shrub rose plant named ‘Meizmea’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Shrub Rose plant is provided that abundantly forms attractive small single cup-shaped blossoms that are bright red with a light pink center on the upper surface. A bushy and compact growth habit is displayed and the foliage is semi-glossy. The disease tolerance is very good particularly with respect to Black Spot and Oidium. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape, such as in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meizmea.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the cross of the ‘Kormax’ variety (non-patented in the UnitedStates) and an unnamed seedling (non-patented in the United States). Themale parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the cross ofthe ‘Meipoque’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,956) and the ‘Korimro’variety (non-patented in the United States).(‘Kormax’×Unnamed Seedling)×(‘Meipoque’×‘Korimro’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Landscape Shrub rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a bushy and compact growth habit,    -   (b) forms in abundance attractive small single cup-shaped        blossoms that are bright red with a light pink center on the        upper surface,    -   (c) displays semi-glossy green foliage,    -   (d) exhibits very good tolerance to diseases particularly with        respect to Black Spot and Oidium, and    -   (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive        ornamentation in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks andgardens.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Theblossoms of the ‘Kormax’ variety display a generally uniform redcoloration. The blossoms of the ‘Meipoque’ variety display a pinkcoloration. The blossoms of the ‘Korimro’ variety display a near whitelight pink coloration.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques inFrance has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stableand are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from onegeneration to another. Accordingly, the new variety can be asexuallyreproduced in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meizmea’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately one year of age and were observedduring June while growing on Rosa froebelli understock outdoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters and a standardcolor presentation are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower-plan view-obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower-plan view-reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower-plan view-obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower-plan view-reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets-planview-upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets-planview-under surface;

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets-planview-upper surface; and

FIG. 17—illustrates a cluster of buds in various stages of openingtogether with one open flower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of one-year-old plants during May while budded on Rosafroebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var,France.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Green Group 134C. Adult wood: near            Green Group 143B.        -   Thorns.—On young stems: Small prickles: quantity: none. Long            prickles: Configuration: curved downwards on the upper            surface and hooked on the under surface with a narrow and            short base. Quantity: approximately 10 on average on a stem            length of 10 cm. Length: approximately 0.6 cm on average.            Color: near Yellow-Green Group 152B. On adult stems: Small            prickles: Configuration: upright and longish pointed on the            upper surface and slightly concave on the under surface with            a narrow and short base. Quantity: approximately 4 on            average on a stem length of 10 cm. Length: approximately 0.3            cm on average. Color: near Greyed-Orange Group 177A. Long            prickles: Configuration: upright and longish pointed on the            upper surface, and slightly concave on the under surface            with a narrow and short base. Quantity: approximately 14 on            average on a stem length of 18 cm. Length: approximately 0.8            cm on average. Color: near Greyed-Orange Group 178A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Smooth, adnate, pectinate, broad, approximately            1.4 cm in length on average, approximately 0.7 cm in width            on average, near Green Group 137A on the upper surface, and            near Yellow-Green Group 147B on the under surface.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: near Green Group 137C in            coloration. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 143C in            coloration. Texture: non-glandular and with a few prickles            on the upper and under surfaces. Length: approximately 2 cm            for the terminal leaflet.        -   Rachis.—Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C in            coloration. Under surface: near Green Group 143A in            coloration. Texture: smooth.        -   Leaflets.—Number 3, 5 and 7, and most often 3 and 5. Shape:            generally oval with a rounded tip and a rounded base. Size:            the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 4.5 cm in            length on average. Serration: small and single (as            illustrated). Texture: somewhat flexible. General            appearance: dense with a semi-glossy aspect. Color (young            foliage): Upper surface: near Green Group 139A. Under            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146A. Color (adult            foliage): Upper surface: near Green Group 137A. Under            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly pluriflorous, with a plurality            of blossoms per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Smooth, approximately 1.9 cm in length on average,            approximately 0.2 cm in diameter on average, and near Green            Group 137D in coloration.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: smooth and near Yellow-Green Group            148B. Under surface: smooth and near Green Group 137C in            coloration. Shape: longish and narrow, and tend to be            upright at the base. Size: near 2.3 cm in length on average,            and near 0.6 cm in width at the widest point on average.        -   Buds.—Shape: elongated. Size: small. Length: approximately            1.5 cm on average. Width: near 1 cm on average at the widest            point. Color as the calyx breaks. Upper surface: near Red            Group 53A, and amply suffused with Red Group 54A. Under            surface: near Red Group 54B, and amply suffused with near            Red Group 54A.        -   Flower.—Shape: cup-shaped. Diameter: approximately 2.2 cm on            average. Color (in the course of opening): Upper surface:            velvety, near Red-Purple Group 61A, and suffused with near            Red Group 53A. Under surface: variable, and near Red Group            54C and 54D with some darker red. Spot at base: light pink.            Color (when fully open): Upper surface: near Red-Purple            Group 57A amply suffused with near Red Group 53A. Under            surface: variable, and near Red-Purple Group 62D suffused            with near Red Group 55D with some darker red. Spot at base:            light pink. Fragrance: none. Petal number: commonly            approximately 5 on average under normal growing conditions.            Petal shape: with a substantially rounded tip and base.            Petal texture: relatively thick. Petal length: approximately            2.9 cm on average. Petal width: approximately 2.9 cm on            average. Petal arrangement: imbricated; and commonly with            some small petaloids towards the center. Petal drop: good            with the petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying.            Stamen number: approximately 95 on average. Anthers:            regularly arranged around the styles, approximately 0.2 cm            in size on average, and near Yellow-Orange Group 17A in            coloration. Pollen: present. Filaments: approximately 0.8 cm            in length on average and near Yellow Group 3C in coloration.            Pistils: approximately 20 on average. Stigmas: approximately            0.2 cm in size on average and near Yellow Group 12C in            coloration. Styles: approximately 0.5 cm in length on            average, and near Yellow Group 2D in coloration. Receptacle:            smooth, funnel-shaped, approximately 0.7 cm in length on            average, approximately 0.4 cm in width on average at the            widest point, and near Green Group 137C in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.        -   Blooming.—Medium season, very abundant, and recurrent.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—Very good, particularly with respect            to Black Spot and Oidium.

1. A new and distinct Shrub rose plant characterized by the followingcharacteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy and compact growth habit, (b)forms in abundance attractive small single cup-shaped blossoms that arebright red with a light pink center on the upper surface, (c) displayssemi-glossy green foliage, (d) exhibits excellent tolerance to diseasesparticularly with respect to Black Spot and Oidium, and (e) isparticularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in thelandscape; substantially as herein shown and described.